A Socio-Historical Analysis of Machiavelli’s Political ThThought in ThThe Prince and ThThe Discourses

Abstract

This theoretical socio-historical study tries to elaborate and analyze the place of power in the state in Machiavelli’s political thought. It will explore Machiavelli’s thought through his major works: The Prince, and The Discourses. In doing so, the study will try to answer the following major questions: To what extent does Machiavelli represent the realistic school of political thought? Was Machiavelli a Machiavellian? To What extent did he deserve his negative reputation? Why has Machiavelli’s use of the distinction between mean and ends in politics caused moral concern? The study illustrates the historical situation in Italy from the late fifteenth century to the mid-sixteenth century. The study will offer a detailed discussion of the concepts of Virtù and Fortuna which are central to Machiavelli’s theory of government. By bringing all these together, the study tries to demonstrate that Machiavelli was not amoral and that the maxim that the ‘end justifies the means’ attributed to him is inaccurate. Machiavelli has, indeed, become a synonym for ‘cunning, crafty, guileful, and deceitful’. Hence the term “Machiavellian” - is a concept that is likely to remain with us regardless of historical accuracy. This study also examines the place of Machiavelli’s Prince in the history of ethics and the history of leadership philosophy. The study argues that Machiavelli was not a ‘Machiavellian’, because he advances an ethical system for leadership that involves uprooting corruption and establishing rule of law. Machiavelli’s main arguments were stated in his two famous works, namely, ‘The Prince’ and ‘The Discourses’. Both can be seen as prescriptions for the maintenance of political stability in two different regimes: ‘Principalities in The Prince, and ‘Republics’ in The Discourses. However, it is not easy to understand either of the above without acute knowledge of the Italian state of affairs during Machiavelli’s time.